Abdul Razak Hussein vs Matsudaira Sadanobu

As Deputy Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Hussein played a key role in restoring order after the May 13 racial riots. He declared a state of emergency and suspended Parliament, leading to the establishment of the National Operations Council that governed until 1971.

As Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Hussein launched the New Economic Policy (NEP), a 20-year plan aimed at reducing poverty and restructuring society to eliminate the association of race with economic function. The NEP favored Bumiputera (Malay) economic advancement.

Abdul Razak Hussein expanded the Alliance Party into the Barisan Nasional (National Front), a broader coalition of multi-racial parties. This coalition dominated Malaysian politics for decades, ensuring political stability but also concentrating power.

Sadanobu enacted the Kansei Reforms, a series of austerity measures including sumptuary laws, reduction of government spending, and promotion of Confucian education. He also banned unorthodox teachings and cracked down on corruption, restoring shogunate finances but stifling cultural innovation.

Matsudaira Sadanobu was appointed roju under Shogun Tokugawa Ienari. He immediately set out to reverse the policies of his predecessor Tanuma Okitsugu, launching a conservative reform program to restore fiscal stability and moral order.

Sadanobu issued an edict promoting Neo-Confucianism as the official ideology and suppressing other schools of thought, including Western learning (Rangaku). This strengthened ideological control but limited intellectual diversity in Japan.

Sadanobu resigned from his position as roju after facing opposition from within the shogunate and the shogun himself. He retired to his domain but continued to influence policy indirectly until his death.